Decoding Aayirathil Oruvan

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers and the author expects the readers to have watched the movie before reading the article. This article doesn’t proclaim that Aayirathil Oruvan is the greatest movie ever made in the history of Tamil Cinema. It’s a brave new welcome attempt which will promote new genre like this. As every other film, this film also has its own set of flaws and the content here only tries to bring out the flavor of the movie.

One of the most anticipated movies has finally arrived and opened to houseful shows with great expectations. But sooner, after the movie was screened, there were predominantly these kind of audience, a mixed response.

a) loved the movie so much that they wanted to watch it again to understand the nuances and other details about the movie.

b) Weren't impressed with the movie which fell short with their expectations.

c) Found the first half to be engaging while they couldn't make out what was being conveyed in the second half.

d) Found that the movie had gore and unwanted scenes in the movie.

e) Yet another movie

To answer them all, here is a conversation between Clap and Boo had after a few rounds of vodka at the local bar; Apparently, I snooped on them to find out their opinion. Guys, It cannot get bigger than this...Clap and Boo discussing the movie together!

Read on to know what they felt about this film!

Boo: What the hell? Are you going to tell me some connection to this scene of 'Therukoothu' and the storyline?

Clap: Hang on, Boo! One step at a time!

Boo: Aah! I think we must concentrate on the narration here! Now I know why Selva has kept that 'Therukoothu' scene. Oh man, looks interesting.

Clap: Wow! That was quick! Also note the credits title then and there in the movie. If you observe the first frame of the movie, you will have the credits indicating 'One small village' Tanjore (now). Immediately, the focus shifts to Tanjore in 1279 with the same story, where Parthiban recite, wait till the messenger comes and followed by the narration by Selva.

Boo: I guess I got watch the movie very keenly!

Clap: Of course you need to! I hope you don't shoot any question in the title credit!

Boo: Hopefully not! Seems like the adventure going to start! So this team headed by Reema will head to find the Professor as well as the Chola kingdom where they lived is it?

Clap: Bingo!

Boo: Do we really need this MGR song?

Clap: Come on man! Living in Tamil Nadu, are you not a fan of MGR? Stealing his title Aayirathil Oruvan, you should at least pay some justice!

Boo: Oh yea! I love this song!!!

Boo: How come Andrea can speak that Tribal language? Isn't it funny? Why does the head of the tribal people leave them without killing them???

Clap: I seriously don't know how a tribal language will be? Moreover, the guide who accompanies them will understand that language, so obviously, Andrea being an archeologist, would probably knew that language. The Tribal head is warning them and they just threaten them. This is quite evident from the guide who speaks to Azhagam Perumal.

Boo: Hmmm, yea, what about the slide what contains the painting?

Clap: Hold On! Like I said; one step at a time!

Boo: Wow, thank God, Karthi didn't die because of the Red Indians. Oh man, why did the leader of the Red Indians kill himself, what's there show a clip in black and white?

Clap: I myself don't know what's the reason behind this? Let's wait and see!

Boo: Who is this Azhagam Perumal? I thought he belong to Indian Army! Lols!

Clap: Did you notice that he was asking Reema Sen that he mistook them and he needed additional men from ex military army, private forces, mercenaries, armed forces and weapons.

Boo: What's there to notice this point?

Clap: Just a heads up!

Boo: Why are they threatening Karthi? Can't they just leave him when he is not interested?

Clap: I feel something fishy here!!!

Boo: Ah song!!! Can I get you something?

Clap: Hang on! Did you infer subtext from this song? Oh Eesa, which means Oh Shiva, The protector. They have realized that they have intruders in their path and a song for protection. Of course, it's not needed though!

Boo: Man!!!!!!!

Clap: Observe this closely Boo! Check out the traps Andrea says. It seems there are 7 traps and she says they have surpassed 3 traps. Kadal, Kaatuvaasi, Kaaval Veerargal, Sarpam, Pudhakuzhi, Pasi & Dhaagam and Grahamam. If you had noticed, initially they while coming to the island, they will be attacked by some sort of jelly fish followed by the threatening of the tribal and then the attack of Red Indians who are supposed to be the protector of the forest. Now it's the time to Sarpam, that's snakes.

Boo: Yea, I can co relate them buddy! I guess after escaping from this trap, these three might get separated!!

Clap: Wow, you can become a screenwriter too!!!

Boo: Reema and Karthi - why are they always out of sync??

Clap: Don't think too much dude!!!

Boo: Don't you think this is too much dude!!! She shot him and he didn’t die!!!! Funniest part of the movie with rubbish logic.

Clap: I guess, there should be some connection Boo! Remember, when the red indians tried to cut his neck his uncle rescued him and now Reema Sen shot him but nothing happened. Remember man! Selva is not a Perarasu!

To read more please visit - www.clapsandboos.com

Aayirathil Oruvan - Still we need the real 'Aayirathil Oruvan'

So we have one of the most expected movies which was in the making for nearly 2 years has finally arrived. This time Selvaraghavan has chosen fantasy genre with a travelling adventure. Not just Selva, we have Karthi, Andrea and Reema adding to our expectations.

It's an adventure fanatasy to discover the Chola dynasty. Isn't it quite a simple plot? But Selva doesn't leave it there, he has utilized the genre very well to give a good gripping adventure throughout the first half. The basic adventure which always starts with a big gang and gradually gets reduces because of various obstacles on their journey is well scripted. Of course, any adventure movie will certainly gets a share from the ace Indiana Jones and traces of National Treasure when the script deals with history treasure hunt. Aayirathil Oruvan is no exception. But the CG isn't satisfactory for this adventure fantasy. Did Selva by any chance thought whether he could at least get to this extent? The adventure goes through forest, sea, dessert, etc., and most of them where computer generated and it's quite evident from the poor graphics or at least not a satisfactory visuals. And when they finally discovers the dynasty where Chola live(d), we have a big surprise and then the story shifts from fantasy to a period movie. Selva, unweilds too many things in the Chola episode that it makes the audience to squeeze their brains to know what is what and who is who?

Of course, there are a few loop holes or rather illogical or how is it possible scenes in the movie, but let's not dig them hard in a fantasy movie as everything is left to our imagination. There are quite interesting scenes in the movie like the movie starts and ends with the same situation, where there will be a scene of elope of Cholo dynasty with different time intervals but with same intention by the same enemies. It was just beautifully designed by the director. It was a destiny for Karthi to be the 'Thoodhuvan'. Moving towards the Climax, there will be literally no dialogues and it's the scenes that speaks for themselves.

Talking about the performance, to be really honest, there isn't any big scope to unveil performance in the movie. But it doesn't mean that they have done a poor show either. They gave what the character needed. But it was certainly a big disappointment from Parthiban, as it was almost kept clueless about his get up in the movie and with minimum dialogues to the character, we couldn't see our usual non stop talking Parthiban. Reema Sen had a much more important role than Karthi and Andrea in the movie. She has done it neatly, though she still needs to improve on the accent and lip sync, but she had tried really hard to give that. Karthi had shades of Paruthiveeran with almost the same get up with the beard striking more Paruthiveeran. Andrea didn't have any big job for her role.

Fantasy? What about the visuals? Ramji has handled the camera and he has done a very good job shooting in the dessert and a few dark shots with gloomy environment. Oh Eesa song, though it was not needed at that situation, it was shot well with vampire effect. Also the red indians shot sequences were also shot brilliantly with proper color correction. Being a travel adventure, the day night, gloomy evening color corrections have been carefully done and had made the end product good. But as I said earlier, the CG was not upto the standards. But considering the budget of the movie, I would probably say they have done a fair job with the budget given to them.

It was a sheer disappointment from GVP when it comes to BGM. It was good in parts, only in certain scenes, but in most of the scenes, BGM sucked big time with poor instrumental. Being a fantasy film, it could have given some fantasy BGM for gripping adventure but it wasn't convincing for the audience to hear our typical stand alone BGM. I remember 3-4 songs being used from the album. Everyone disappointed with the exclusiong of Maalai Neram song. Out of the 3-4 songs used, they aren't needed for the story. Though they were good, they stand as odd man out while watching the movie.

Verdict : Go for it!

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